TRIM Proteins in Colorectal Cancer: TRIM8 as a Promising Therapeutic Target in Chemo Resistance

Tripartite motif 8 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via mediating ubiquitination of HNF1α

Tripartite motif 8 (TRIM8) is an E3 ligase that plays dual roles in various tumor types. The biological effects and underlying mechanism of TRIM8 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α) is a key transcriptional factor that plays a significant role in regulating hepatocyte differentiation and liver function. The reduced expression of HNF1α is a critical event in the development of HCC, but the underlying mechanism for its degradation remains elusive. In this study, we discovered that the expression of TRIM8 was upregulated in HCC tissues, and was positively correlated with aggressive tumor behavior of HCC and shorter survival of HCC patients. Overexpression of TRIM8 promoted the proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells, while TRIM8 knockdown or knockout exerted the opposite effects. RNA sequencing revealed that TRIM8 knockout suppresses several cancer-related pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β signaling in HepG2 cells. TRIM8 directly interacts with HNF1α, promoting its degradation by catalyzing polyubiquitination on lysine 197 in HCC cells. Moreover, the cancer-promoting effects of TRIM8 in HCC were abolished by the HNF1α-K197R mutant in vitro and in vivo. These data demonstrated that TRIM8 plays an oncogenic role in HCC progression through mediating the ubiquitination of HNF1α and promoting its protein degradation, and suggests targeting TRIM8-HNF1α may provide a promising therapeutic strategy of HCC.

Research on the Effect and Mechanism of Selenium on Colorectal Cancer Through TRIM32

The intake of selenium (Se) in the human body is negatively correlated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but its mechanism in the occurrence and development of CRC is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Se on CRC, and explore the anti-tumor effect of Se supplementation on CRC and its molecular mechanism. In this study, we utilized colony formation assay, cell scratch test, Transwell migration, and flow cytometry to assess cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Our findings demonstrate that Se effectively suppresses the growth and proliferation of CRC cell lines HCT116 and SW480 and promoting cellular apoptosis. In vivo experiments demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect of Se on tumor growth. CRC-related datasets were extracted from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases for differential expression analysis of TRIM32 and survival analysis. We found that TRIM32 was highly expressed in tumor tissues of CRC patients and correlated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, through RNA sequencing analysis, we identified TRIM32 as a gene that was significantly decreased after Se treatment in HCT116 cells. This finding was subsequently validated by Western blot results. Moreover, TRIM32 knockdown combined with Se treatment significantly inhibited cell growth proliferation and migration and further induced apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells. In conclusion, our findings provided evidence that Se inhibited the growth of colorectal cancer cells by down-regulating TRIM32.

Association of the TRIM family protein with survival outcomes and clinicopathological features in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins have been reported to play crucial roles in various malignancies. However, the clinical significance of TRIM proteins in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between TRIM proteins and the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes in patients with CRC.

METHODS

We performed a meta-analysis to investigate whether TRIM is a prognostic factor in CRC. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI and Weipu databases were searched to identify eligible studies that evaluated the association between TRIM proteins and overall survival (OS), as well as the clinicopathological features of patients with CRC. Hazard ratios (HR) or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were derived and pooled using a fixed-effects model.

RESULTS

From inception to March 2023, we extracted study characteristics and prognostic data for each identified study. Twelve studies enrolling 1608 patients were eligible for inclusion. Data on OS and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were available for 12 and 2 studies, respectively. The pooled analysis results showed a significant correlation between the elevated TRIM proteins and shorter OS (HR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.96-2.99) and worse RFS (HR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.78-3.54) in patients with CRC. The combined ORs indicated that TRIM protein over-expression was significantly associated with advanced TNM stage (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.25-4.10), deep tumor invasion (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.04-3.88), lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.99, 95% CI: 2.19-4.09) and perineural invasion (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.18-3.23).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that TRIM proteins can predict tumor progression and poor prognosis in CRC. Therefore, TRIM proteins may be promising therapeutic targets for patients with CRC.

Therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic values of TRIM proteins in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in men worldwide. The TRIM (tripartite motif) family of proteins is involved in the regulation of various cellular processes, including antiviral immunity, apoptosis, and cancer progression. In recent years, several TRIM proteins have been found to play important roles in prostate cancer initiation and progression. TRIM proteins have indicated oncogenic activity in prostate cancer by enhancing androgen or estrogen receptor signaling and promoting cancer cell growth. Inhibition of TRIM proteins has been raised as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer. Overall, these studies suggest that TRIM family proteins exert tumor-promoting effects in prostate cancer, and targeting these proteins can provide a promising therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer treatment. On the other hand, some TRIM proteins can be differentially expressed in prostate cancer cells compared to normal cells, thus providing novel diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for prostate cancer.

Whole Exome-Wide Association Identifies Rare Variants in GALNT9 Associated with Middle Eastern Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Risk

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the commonest thyroid cancer. The majority of inherited causes of PTC remain elusive. However, understanding the genetic underpinnings and origins remains a challenging endeavor. An exome-wide association study was performed to identify rare germline variants in coding regions associated with PTC risk in the Middle Eastern population. By analyzing exome-sequencing data from 249 PTC patients (cases) and 1395 individuals without any known cancer (controls), GALNT9 emerged as being strongly associated with rare inactivating variants (RIVs) (4/249 cases vs. 1/1395 controls, OR = 22.75, p = 5.09 × 10-5). Furthermore, three genes, TRIM40, ARHGAP23, and SOX4, were enriched for rare damaging variants (RDVs) at the exome-wide threshold (p < 2.5 × 10-6). An additional seven genes (VARS1, ZBED9, PRRC2A, VWA7, TRIM31, TRIM40, and COL8A2) were associated with a Middle Eastern PTC risk based on the sequence kernel association test (SKAT). This study underscores the potential of GALNT9 and other implicated genes in PTC predisposition, illuminating the need for large collaborations and innovative approaches to understand the genetic heterogeneity of PTC predisposition.

The Functions of TRIM56 in Antiviral Innate Immunity and Tumorigenesis

As a member of the TRIM (tripartite motif) protein family, TRIM56 can function as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. In addition, TRIM56 has been shown to possess deubiquitinase activity and the ability to bind RNA. This adds to the complexity of the regulatory mechanism of TRIM56. TRIM56 was initially found to be able to regulate the innate immune response. In recent years, its role in direct antiviral and tumor development has also attracted the interest of researchers, but there is no systematic review on TRIM56. Here, we first summarize the structural features and expression of TRIM56. Then, we review the functions of TRIM56 in TLR and cGAS-STING pathways of innate immune response, the mechanisms and structural specificity of TRIM56 against different types of viruses, and the dual roles of TRIM56 in tumorigenesis. Finally, we discuss the future research directions regarding TRIM56.

TRIM8: a double-edged sword in glioblastoma with the power to heal or hurt

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain tumor and one of the most lethal central nervous system tumors in adults. Despite significant breakthroughs in standard treatment, only about 5% of patients survive 5 years or longer. Therefore, much effort has been put into the search for identifying new glioma-associated genes. Tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family proteins are essential regulators of carcinogenesis. TRIM8, a member of the TRIM superfamily, is abnormally expressed in high-grade gliomas and is associated with poor clinical prognosis in patients with glioma. Recent research has shown that TRIM8 is a molecule of duality (MoD) that can function as both an oncogene and a tumor suppressor gene, making it a "double-edged sword" in glioblastoma development. This characteristic is due to its role in selectively regulating three major cellular signaling pathways: the TP53/p53-mediated tumor suppression pathway, NFKB/NF-κB, and the JAK-STAT pathway essential for stem cell property support in glioma stem cells. In this review, TRIM8 is analyzed in detail in the context of GBM and its involvement in essential signaling and stem cell-related pathways. We also discuss the basic biological activities of TRIM8 in macroautophagy/autophagy, regulation of bipolar spindle formation and chromosomal stability, and regulation of chemoresistance, and as a trigger of inflammation.

Altered Expression of TRIM Proteins - Inimical Outcome and Inimitable Oncogenic Function in Breast Cancer with Diverse Carcinogenic Hallmarks

Deregulation of ubiquitin-mediated degradation of oncogene products or tumor suppressors appears to be implicated in the genesis of carcinomas, according to new clinical findings. Conferring to recent research, some members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins (a subfamily of the RING type E3 ubiquitin ligases) act as significant carcinogenesis regulators. Intracellular signaling, development, apoptosis, protein quality control, innate immunity, autophagy, and carcinogenesis are all regulated by TRIM family proteins, the majority of which have E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. The expression of TRIMs in tumors is likely to be related to the formation and/or progression of the disease, and TRIM expression could be used to predict cancer prognosis. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and also the leading cause of death. TRIM family proteins have unique, vital activities, and their dysregulation, such as TRIM 21, promotes breast cancer, according to growing evidence. Many TRIM proteins have been identified as important cancer biomarkers, with decreased or elevated levels of expression. TRIM29 functions as a hypoxia-induced tumor suppressor gene, revealing a new molecular mechanism for ATM-dependent breast cancer suppression. In breast cancer cells, the TRIM28-TWIST1-EMT axis exists, and TRIM28 enhances breast cancer metastasis by stabilizing TWIST1, and thereby increasing epithelial-tomesenchymal transition. Interestingly, many TRIM proteins are involved in the control of p53, and many TRIM proteins are likewise regulated by p53, according to current research. Furthermore, TRIMs linked to specific tumors may aid in the creation of innovative TRIM-targeted cancer treatments. This review focuses on TRIM proteins that are involved in tumor development, progression, and are of clinical significance in breast cancer.

Knockdown of TRIM8 alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Although TRIpartite Motif containing 8 (TRIM8) gene plays an important role in a number of biological processes, such as inflammation, its function and mechanism in ulcerative colitis (UC) remain unknown.

METHODS

The UC model was established by feeding mice with 3.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The animals were divided into the following four groups: control group, DSS group, DSS+short hairpin (sh)-NC group, and DSS+sh-TRIM8 group. Changes in body weight and disease activity index (DAI) score of mice in all the groups were recorded for 7 days. The animals were executed at the end of the experiment, and the expression of TRIM8 in colon tissue was detected by polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays. The length of colon was measured, and the histopathological changes in mice colon were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression of pro-inflammatory factors in mice serum and colonic tissue homogenate was detected by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay. The expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway-related proteins in colonic tissues was detected by Western-blot analysis.

RESULTS

TRIM8 was highly expressed in the colonic tissues of UC mice. Knockdown of TRIM8 improved DSS-induced weight loss, increased DAI score, shortened colon length, and alleviated colonic injury and inflammation in mice. Western-blot experiments showed that knockdown of TRIM8 inhibited DSS-induced phosphorylation of p65 and nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα) protein but increased IκBα expression.

CONCLUSION

Knockdown of TRIM8 inhibits UC injury and inflammatory response caused by DSS. This could be related to the regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway by TRIM8 protein.

The Underestimated Role of the p53 Pathway in Renal Cancer

The TP53 tumor suppressor gene is known as the guardian of the genome, playing a pivotal role in controlling genome integrity, and its functions are lost in more than 50% of human tumors due to somatic mutations. This percentage rises to 90% if mutations and alterations in the genes that code for regulators of p53 stability and activity are taken into account. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a clear example of cancer that despite having a wild-type p53 shows poor prognosis because of the high rate of resistance to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, which leads to recurrence, metastasis and death. Remarkably, the fact that p53 is poorly mutated does not mean that it is functionally active, and increasing experimental evidences have demonstrated this. Therefore, RCC represents an extraordinary example of the importance of p53 pathway alterations in therapy resistance. The search for novel molecular biomarkers involved in the pathways that regulate altered p53 in RCC is mandatory for improving early diagnosis, evaluating the prognosis and developing novel potential therapeutic targets for better RCC treatment.

TRIM family contribute to tumorigenesis, cancer development, and drug resistance

The tripartite-motif (TRIM) family represents one of the largest classes of putative single protein RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligases. TRIM family is involved in a variety of cellular signaling transductions and biological processes. TRIM family also contributes to cancer initiation, progress, and therapy resistance, exhibiting oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions in different human cancer types. Moreover, TRIM family members have great potential to serve as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we focus on the specific mechanisms of the participation of TRIM family members in tumorigenesis, and cancer development including interacting with dysregulated signaling pathways such as JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT, TGF-β, NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, and p53 hub. In addition, many studies have demonstrated that the TRIM family are related to tumor resistance; modulate the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, and guarantee the acquisition of cancer stem cells (CSCs) phenotype. In the end, we havediscussed the potential of TRIM family members for cancer therapeutic targets.

Emerging Roles of TRIM Family Proteins in Gliomas Pathogenesis

Simple Summary

Gliomas remain challenging tumors due to their increased heterogeneity, complex molecular profile, and infiltrative phenotype that are often associated with a dismal prognosis. In a constant search for molecular changes and associated mechanisms, the TRIM protein family has emerged as an important area of investigation because of the regulation of vital cellular processes involved in brain pathophysiology that may possibly lead to brain tumor development. Herein, we discuss the diverse role of TRIM proteins in glioma progression, aiming to detect potential targets for future intervention.

Abstract

Gliomas encompass a vast category of CNS tumors affecting both adults and children. Treatment and diagnosis are often impeded due to intratumor heterogeneity and the aggressive nature of the more malignant forms. It is therefore essential to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and explore the intracellular signaling pathways underlying tumor pathology to provide more promising diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools for gliomas. The tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) superfamily of proteins plays a key role in many physiological cellular processes, including brain development and function. Emerging evidence supports the association of TRIMs with a wide variety of cancers, exhibiting both an oncogenic as well as a tumor suppressive role depending on cancer type. In this review, we provide evidence of the pivotal role of TRIM proteins in gliomagenesis and exploit their potential as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Tripartite motif 52 (TRIM52) promotes proliferation, migration, and regulation of colon cancer cells associated with the NF-κB signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

With the advancement of early detection and treatment, the incidence of colon cancer (CC) has declined steadily worldwide; however, the mortality remains unacceptably high. Tripartite motif 52 (TRIM52) is a member of the family of highly conserved RBCC (a RING-finger, two B-boxes, and a predicted alpha-helical Coiled-Coil domain were linked to the N-terminal region in sequence) proteins with more than 70 isoforms, which plays an important role in tumorigenesis through different signaling pathways. How it regulates the development of CC remains unknown.

METHODS

Western blot was used to reveal that TRIM52 protein expression is up-regulated in CC cells. The Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to find the different expressions of TRIM52 between colon cancer tissues and normal colonic epithelial tissues. Cell proliferation assays, migration and invasion assays, and apoptosis were used to verify the changes in cell function after knockdown or overexpression of TRIM52 in CC cells. After that, the key proteins of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway were validated by western blot to explore the role of TRIM52 in the NF-κB signaling pathway. Finally, in order to explore the potential sites of TRIM52, LPS and PDTC were employed to activate and block the NF-κB signaling pathway, and the key proteins of the NF-κB signaling pathway were validated by western blot.

RESULTS

TGCA database revealed that TRIM52 expression was elevated in CC tissues and correlated with prognosis. It was verified that TRIM52 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells, and inhibited cell apoptosis. Most of the tripartite motif proteins (TRIMs) have ubiquitin ligase activity related to their highly conserved RING structure. Detection of the key proteins of the NF-κB signaling pathway in CC cells revealed that TRIM52 activated the NF-κB signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed that TRIM52 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion while inhibiting apoptosis of CC cells. The regulatory effect of TRIM52 on CC cells is related to the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. As TRIM52 acted as an upstream stimulator, stimulating the transfer of P65 into the nucleus to activate the NF-κB signaling pathway, it may provide a potential target for prognosis prediction and treatment of CC.

Dissecting the Functional Role of the TRIM8 Protein on Cancer Pathogenesis

Simple Summary

The tripartite motif (TRIM) gene family is a large group of E3 ubiquitin ligase proteins that can also have proteasome-independent functions. This review summarizes the structural organization, the biological functions and the mechanisms involved in cancer pathogenesis of TRIM proteins. Furthermore, this paper focuses on TRIM8, a member of the TRIM family proteins, describing its role both as a tumor suppressor and as an oncogene.

Abstract

TRIM/RBCC are a large family of proteins that include more than 80 proteins, most of which act as E3 ligases and catalyze the direct transfer of Ubiquitin, SUMO and ISG15 on specific protein substrates. They are involved in oncogenesis processes and in cellular immunity. On this topic, we focus on TRIM8 and its multiple roles in tumor pathologies. TRIM8 inhibits breast cancer proliferation through the regulation of estrogen signaling. TRIM8 downregulation in glioma is involved in cell proliferation, and it is related to patients’ survival. Several studies suggested that TRIM8 regulates the p53 suppressor signaling pathway: it is involved in the NF-kB pathway (Nuclear Factor kappa light- chain-enhancer of activated B cells) and in STAT3 (Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3) of the JAK-STAT pathway. In this review, we summarize how the association between these different pathways reflects a dual role of TRIM8 in cancer as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene.

Clinical significance of TRIM29 expression in patients with gastric cancer

Aim

The present study aimed to evaluate the expression profile, prognostic value, and possible correlation of TRIM29 with β-catenin, Cyclin D, and Bcl2 in Iranian patients with GC.

Background

Tripartite Motif Containing 29 (TRIM29) has been reported to function as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor depending on the tumor type. This contextual function has created a controversial situation that needs to be fully delineated in various cancers. Although few studies have reported an elevated TRIM29 expression in gastric cancer (GC), its clinicopathological and prognostic values as well as possible molecular mechanisms are yet to be re-evaluated in different populations.

Methods

Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect TRIM29, β-catenin, Cyclin D, and Bcl-2 expression in 40 GC and their adjacent normal tissues. Patients were further stratified into high and low expression subgroups based on their TRIM29 expression levels. The association of TRIM29 expression level with β-catenin, Cyclin D, BCL2, some clinicopathological features, and patients' overall survival (OS) was assessed using appropriate statistical analyses.

Results

The results showed a significantly higher TRIM29 expression level in GC tissues compared with their corresponding normal tissues (fold change=2.94, p=0.003). Patients with high TRIM29 expression levels exhibited poorer OS (HR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.06-1.47, p=0.007). High expression of TRIM29 was also associated with increased levels of β-catenin, Cyclin D, and Bcl-2 genes expression.

Conclusion

Overexpression of TRIM29 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with GC and is probably mediated through β-catenin/Cyclin D/Bcl2 pathway and can be considered as a potential independent prognostic marker.

Ubiquitination, Biotech Startups, and the Future of TRIM Family Proteins: A TRIM-Endous Opportunity

Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that has pivotal roles in protein degradation and diversified cellular processes, and for more than two decades it has been a subject of interest in the biotech or biopharmaceutical industry. Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins are known to have proven E3 ubiquitin ligase activities and are involved in a multitude of cellular and physiological events and pathophysiological conditions ranging from cancers to rare genetic disorders. Although in recent years many kinds of E3 ubiquitin ligases have emerged as the preferred choices of big pharma and biotech startups in the context of protein degradation and disease biology, from a surface overview it appears that TRIM E3 ubiquitin ligases are not very well recognized yet in the realm of drug discovery. This article will review some of the blockbuster scientific discoveries and technological innovations from the world of ubiquitination and E3 ubiquitin ligases that have impacted the biopharma community, from biotech colossuses to startups, and will attempt to evaluate the future of TRIM family proteins in the province of E3 ubiquitin ligase-based drug discovery.